VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1956 3200 hydromatic

How rare is a 1956 hydromatic 3200 with a 235? It has a big back window. Is there a way I can find out how many were made?
I have never seen one in Hemings. This truck is totally original and in good shape. Does the hydromatic add or take away value from the truck? It does have the chrome label that says hydromatic. Thanks Greg

I wouldn't consider a truck with Hydramatic rare. Hydramatic was available first in 1954 (in trucks). I would guess about 1% of the 353,000 trucks sold n 1956 had Hydramatic.
As far as value goes some would prefer to have Hydramatic and some to not have it.
I have never seen any GM figures as to how many were made.

I agree that Hydramatic in Chevy or GMC was not rare. But added value,probably not. They were strong trannys but shifted hard no matter how well adjusted. I have owned a '54 GMC with the 270 ci motor for 12 years. It's a farm truck so used hard hauling way more than it should.
Never a problem shifting or slipping under load. For an air cooled cast iron automatic it works great. I also have one in a non GM car and am equally happy there. Dan

The Hydramatics in larger Chevrolet trucks were water cooled and used lower gear in the intermeadite speeds.
Because the Hydramatic had only a fluid copling it did not build up as much heat as a Torque converter trans.
They were "hard" shifting behind 6 cylinder engines and more so in a truck for reduced clutch plate wear.